Undeadly Hardware/Software Recommendations
To get the best zombocalyptic experience, you should have the proper equipment for the job. It’s amazing how much a little silicon and metal oxide can help you splatter undead entrails all over the cursed earth. First, let’s look at the…
Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows XP, Vista, or Vista 64
- CPU: 3.0GHz Pentium 4, Dual Core 2.0 or AMD64 X2 (or better)
- RAM: 1 GB for XP / 2 GB for Vista
- Disc Drive: DVD-ROM Drive (technically, you don’t need this)
- Hard Drive: At least 7.5 GB of free space
- Video: DirectX 9-compatible video card
- Must have 128MB+ onboard (dedicated) memory
- Must be DirectX 9-compatible with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
- Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
In addition to these requirements, Zombicidal has a number of recommendations:
Operating System
Use Windows XP Professional. Vista can cause compatibility issues, and DX10 will do almost nothing to improve Source games.
CPU
Core2 Duo or AMD64 X2. Try to get one that has an “Operating Frequency” above 2.5GHz. If you’re confused about the model numbers, 2.0GHz dual-core processors include the Core2 Duo E4400 and AMD64 X2 3800+. The E5200 (an overclocking dream) and X2 4800+ are 2.5-GHz processors. You may notice that AMD dual-core processors are often less expensive than their Intel counterparts for similar frequencies. This is often because AMD’s CPU cache sizes are usually smaller. In the mid-2Ghz price range, both manufacturers offer great values, so don’t be afraid to choose either one based on this misleading difference in price. You may pay more for a 2.5GHz Intel, but you will get more out of it.
For the same price, quad-core CPUs (Core2 Quad, Core i7, Phenom) are generally inferior to dual-core CPUs for gaming, because very few games can utilize more than two processing threads.
RAM
You should be using some sort of DDR SDRAM. Generally, the more you have and the higher its clock speed, the better, but this is not always true. We recommend having 2-4GB of DDR2 or DDR3 SDRAM, with clock speeds of at least 533 MHz. The optimal speed for your rig depends on your FSB clock, but generally, the higher the clock speed, the better.
Don’t get more than 4GB of RAM, especially for a 32-bit operating system. Having more is useless, because the processor cannot address more than 4GB of total memory (ignoring PAE). Even if you have a 64-bit system, the only reason we might recommend more than 4GB for L4D is if you have a quad-core CPU and decide to run a dedicated server on a virtual machine.
Video Card
The graphics card is the centerpiece of any gaming rig. You should certainly aim for a video card with at least 512MB of dedicated memory, but you can definitely play with 256MB. If you’re not using PCI-Express x16 (PCI-E), upgrade your motherboard! For the price of any given AGP card with Pixel Shader 2.0, you could get a PCI-E card three times more powerful.
We generally recommend nVidia over ATi, but ATi cards often come at good values. You can run L4D on decent settings with a ~$60 video card like an nVidia GeForce 8600GT 256MB. The “sweet spot” for video cards for L4D is around the $130 range. The nVidia Geforce 9800GTX+ 512MB (or GTS 250) is the best value in this range. We highly recommend EVGA’s nVidia cards. A roughly equivalent card is the ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB. Both cards will allow you to max your settings, though you may experience some frame lag in areas with a lot of environmental effects like water or fire.
One question many gamers have is whether they should use SLI or CrossFire. These competing branded technologies allow two or more GPUs (graphics processors) to work in tandem. It is definitely true that SLI and CF are required to make the most badass rig possible. However, the increase in cost is quite dramatic. When changing from a single-card rig to SLI/CF,
Sound Card
Most newer motherboards include an onboard 5.1 or 7.1 surround-sound chipset (usually by RealTek). These are compatible with DX9.0c, so there is no need to buy an additional sound card unless you got a hankering for it. What you should buy is either 5.1+ surround headphones or speakers. If you only intend to buy one, you should favor headphones. The sound in L4D is thoughtfully designed, and the game includes directional audio that you can use to determine the location of friends and enemies. Ever had someone shoot you through the wall while you were a Boomer? A surround-sound system is the likely reason.
Product Info ▼
Mouse
While any desktop combo may be acceptable for the casual gamer, anyone wishing to try to improve his gaming prowess should consider buying a quality gaming mouse and mousepad. It’s surprising how much improvement you may see after switching to a more advanced mouse.
Don’t get overzealous and order that Razer Mamba just yet. When first upgrading, just look for a solid LED/laser mouse. Be careful about flashy words like ‘DPI’, ‘laser’, and ‘wireless’, which may be marketing gimmicks. Why? Most of gamers will not benefit from more than 1600 DPI. While “LED” doesn’t sound as cool as “laser”, LED mice are generally better at tracking than their flashy counterparts. Wireless mice suffer from negotiation lag, which can cause the mouse to move erratically.
One selling point that is not a gimmick is variable DPI. Different situations require different sensitivities. Let’s say you’re playing Versus. Bill’s rifle may require steady aim, but once you switch sides and become Eminem the Frog, a high turning rate is essential.
Logitech products receive our recommendation. There are quality products from other companies, but Logitech consistently releases quality mice that are designed with practical performance at heart. They also have extremely reliable rebates, if you like saving money. Our love goes out to any mouse in the Logitech MX5xx-series, especially the Logitech MX518. This comfortable “budget” mouse outclasses many of its more expensive competition in terms of tracking quality and low-sensitivity control. If you’d like to learn more about selecting gaming mice, please check out this post.
The venerated Logitech G5 is a more fully-featured alternative to the MX mice. For those who can’t get used to wires, the G7 is the wireless version of the G5, but you should really try to stick with wired. Anyone who just can’t resist splurging on a top-of-the-line gaming mouse should consider the Razer Mamba, which is touted to be a leviathan of wireless gaming mice (in performance and price tag!). We don’t recommend the flagship Logitech G9, despite an impressive feature set, due to abysmal . The G9x (which we have not tested) purportedly fixes these issues.
Once you get a quality mouse, try decreasing the DPI or sensitivity gradually. You may find that you become much more accurate. If you like this change, try a larger mousepad. The SteelSeries QcK series, particularly the QcK+, are excellent entry-level gaming mousepads.
Keyboard
In our opinion, when buying a mouse and keyboard, you should focus on the mouse. Most keyboards, even cheap ones, will do the trick. Surprisingly, many gaming keyboards have such an intense focus on frills and form that they skimp on the details that are actually important to gaming. For instance, there are some Microsoft gaming keyboards that don’t allow you to press more than one key while holding down a modifier—so, for instance, you can’t walk forward while reloading. We had our own bad experiences with the Logitech G11. The lighted keys were actually harder to see than printed ones, and the keyboard would die every hour or so (at the worst possible time, of course).
Our recommendation goes out to any wired keyboard that feels comfortable to you. If you want to splurge, pick a well-rated general-use keyboard, not a gaming keyboard. Elunah owns the Logitech Wave Keyboard and loves it. There is little need for macros and other gaming specialty features in Left 4 Dead. Even if you wish to have a lot of shortcuts at your fingertips, radial menus LINK are much better. If you must have macros and lights, you may have better luck with the Logitech G11 or G15. Other popular keyboards include the Saitek Eclipse and Eclipse II.
Where to Buy?
Newegg.com has our unenquivocal recommendation for computer parts, and usually has the best prices. You may be able to find better deals if you are patient, however. We recommend using SlickDeals.net’s Deal Alerts to find the right deal for you.
Hey there, this is really helpful info but I have another quick question. Remember I asked about L4D on my Mac well I decided not to do this and just build my own PC. I have a friend who does this and I have been doing a lot research. This is info is extremely helpful but my question is this: Does it matter what type of Motherboard I purchase if I get all these components? Thanks a bunch!!
In terms of motherboards for gaming, there are two things you should consider:
#1: Does it meet the requirements for the other components you want to buy?
#2: How long will it stay up-to-date? Will you be able to add new video cards/CPUs/SDRAM a year from now? Two years?
The most important thing is just to make sure that it supports what you want to do. For instance, don’t pay for DDR3 if your board only supports DDR2. If you want to do SLI, make sure the board is SLI-capable. (Btw, I think SLI is a waste of money for L4D.) Make absolutely sure that the CPU slot matches the CPU you want to buy. Also, check the RAM specifications closely. What is the maximum amount of RAM supported? Maximum speed? Beyond that, don’t worry too much. You don’t need a top-of-the-line mobo; it’s not as important as your video card or RAM for gaming. You just need one that does what you want it to do. If you can get one with good sound, Gigabit ethernet, and other frills, that’s fine, but that’s up to you.
In terms of compatibility with the future, do some research on what technologies are coming out. PCI-Ex16 should be good for a while, for instance, as will the current Core 2 slots (e.g. LGA 775), but you should check on this, anyway. It’s painful to be limited by your motherboard when you want to do upgrades.
A word about CPUs: if you’re just gaming, a dual-core will do fine. Very few games will benefit from more than two cores, due to programming limitations. For the price, you’ll get a lot more power out of two cores than four, since for the same price, each core of a quad-core has less processing power than each core of a dual-core. If, in the future, you want to switch to a quad-core, you can do it easily, assuming you get the right motherboard with a future-capable slot. I personally recommend Intel, but AMD offers better values for gamers, hertz-for-hertz. You should stick to the packaged heatsink and fan unless you want to overclock; the current stock coolers are quite good.
Thanks a bunch Elunah, yeah all I really play on PC is L4D so this is great info you got here, love it!! Ive been playing on the 360 since L4D release but I am excited to come into the world of PC….it is just so much simpler to be and the game itself is just way better on PC. Ive only been playing on PC for a couple days now, in the library, at my college, haha.
Yeah, the PC is better for shooters, if you ask me. A mouse is just a better way of aiming, and a computer just feels a lot more responsive. I’m glad you like the info! Let me know if you need any more help.
Yeah no problem, I’m sure I’ll need more in the future!